“the major relational problem for our species is not getting together; protoplasm loves to join. The problem is preserving self in a… — Edwin H Friedman Close relationship Copy Share Image
“the key to survival is the ability of the “host” to recognize and limit the invasiveness of its viral or malignant components.” — Edwin H Friedman Copy Share Image
The function of a leader within any institution: to provide that regulation through his or her non-anxious, self-defined presence. — Edwin H Friedman Anxious Copy Share Image
“while the modern, human animal is capable of deep thought and, like its mammalian forebears, can nurture and play, it also is… — Edwin H Friedman Animals Copy Share Image
“no one has ever gone from slavery to freedom with the slaveholders cheering them on,” — Edwin H Friedman Freedom Copy Share Image
Communication does not depend on syntax, or eloquence, or rhetoric, or articulation but on the emotional context in which the message is… — Edwin H Friedman Articulation Copy Share Image
“The three criteria of reptilian functioning that leaders of any family or institution can always rely on to judge madness (of others… — Edwin H Friedman Family Copy Share Image
“any community or family discussion, those who are the first to introduce concern for empathy feel powerless, and are trying to use… — Edwin H Friedman Community Copy Share Image
“A “new world” view of the brain suggests instead that communication is itself an emotional phenomenon that depends on three interrelational rather… — Edwin H Friedman Communication Copy Share Image
A major criterion for judging the anxiety level of any society is the loss of its capacity to be playful. — Edwin H Friedman Anxiety Copy Share Image
“the “old world” view separates data from emotional process and focuses leaders on the “talking heads” of others, while the “new world”… — Edwin H Friedman Leadership Copy Share Image
Leadership can be thought of as a capacity to define oneself to others in a way that clarifies and expands a vision… — Edwin H Friedman Capacity Copy Share Image
“when one individual in a marriage stands up to another, while the other will not like it at first, he or she… — Edwin H Friedman Marriage Copy Share Image
“There are always three factors involved in survival, no matter how toxic the environment. One is the physical reality; the second is… — Edwin H Friedman Dumb luck Copy Share Image
“If lack of self-regulation is the essential characteristic of organisms that are destructive, it is the presence of self-regulatory capacity that is… — Edwin H Friedman Biology Copy Share Image
“those who lack self-definition, whether they are children, marriage partners, employees, clients, therapists, or supervisors, will always perceive those who are well-defined… — Edwin H Friedman Children Copy Share Image
The colossal misunderstanding of our time is the assumption that insight will work with people who are unmotivated to change. — Edwin H Friedman Assumption Copy Share Image
“information does not consist of energy, and leadership is all about energy, about making an impact. Basing leadership on information theory disempowers… — Edwin H Friedman Data Copy Share Image
